Community Outreach/Partnership Efforts with the Lincoln County Fair Floral Hall Theme Nights!

Michelle Padgett, FCS Program Assistant and Jody Paver, FCS Agent with Lincoln County Extension took a new approach to increase educational opportunities with the Lincoln County Fair Floral Hall.  The fair was moved from the regularly scheduled July dates to June, causing a need to be creative in the promotion and awareness of the new fair schedule and activities. 

 As part of the Lincoln County Fair Board, The Lincoln County Cooperative Extension FCS Program, began recruiting a variety of community partnerships and programs.  The plan was to add value to the Floral Hall Fair experience by hooding activities on the back patio of the Floral Hall Building with the Lincoln County Fair, in Stanford, KY, June 18 -22. 

Different themes for the back patio were planned each night of the fair. The inside of the Floral Hall theme was The Cat and the Hat, focusing on Literacy and the importance of reading to your children.

The back patio themes will change each night with community partnerships to add to the fair experience and promote community resources and opportunities.

The regular Floral Hall Arts and Crafts, 4-H and Youth, horticulture and produce exhibits were still an integral part of the Fair.   31 volunteers over 3 days helped with the check-in, set-up, judging, and display of exhibits.   

A Live Pinterest Board was created to meet community needs using educational materials mixed with the displayed Floral Hall entries.  Adding recipe cards, nutrition information, gardening information, Food Preservation, and preparation information helped families learn ways to stretch their food budget and provide healthy meals for their families. Youth opportunities were highlighted in the 4-H entry displays.  The display of arts and crafts in the Floral Hall was a great way to promote Extension Clubs and programs and bring awareness of mental health and learning healthy ways to allow stress relief.

June 18 from 6pm – 9pm - Tuesday was Family night focusing on Literacy with a Storytime by FCCLA students, the Bookmobile and tan opportunity to register for the Summer Reading Program, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, along with registering for a Library Card.  The Lincoln County Farm Bureau Women, and Farm Bureau community outreach reading Initiative was set up with a drawing for free Children’s Book giveaways.  CASA, Child Appointed Special Advocates also shared resources and family friendly goodies.   A Story Walk was placed in the grass by the Show Barns promoting the importance of physical activity and healthy food choices.   

June 19 from 6pm – 9pm - Wednesday was a history focus with local history, historical places, tourism being highlighted, along with a celebration of awareness of Juneteenth.  Orphan Care Alliance was also present promoting foster and relative placement support and resources.

June 20 from 6pm – 9pm -Thursday was the Longest Day of Play, the official first day of summer with outdoor games and fun for kids. A cooling center on the back patio was filed with board games, bubbles, and books.   Quest Counseling, Haven Care Pregnancy Center, Volunteers of America, The Lincoln County Middle School Family Resource Center, and the Hustonville Family Resource Center were great community partners and helped families to have lots of fun and get free educational information.   Participants received water bottles, backpacks, and Kid sized MyPlate along with educational information to with each item.

June 21 – 10am – noon – This was a great opportunity for many community partnerships with opportunities for a Free Day at the Fair with the Friends with Disabilities and Senior Fun Day – This was Fair-wide event filled with face painting, popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, cookies, drinks, and lots more.  The rides and fair activities ran without music and lights for the sensory friendly day.   FCCLA Members helped distribute free popsicles and drinks.  An Extension Homemaker Member was the Cat in The Hat and took pictures with participants.   High School sports and club members helped participants to get on and off rides along with being a ride “Buddy: when needed.   Cooperative Extension helped to provide ASL interpreters, free recipes and educational resources, and Floral Hall and Back Patio Festivities.

June 21 from 6pm – 9pm -Friday night was focused on Marketing the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service and the Lincoln County programs and groups.  Plate It Up KY Proud Recipes and Food Preservation Resources were available along with promotional materials for the 4 different Lincoln County Farmers Markets.   The Lincoln County Farmers Market, which operates out of Veterans Park, promoted and explained the WIC and Senior Voucher Programs that they offer.

June 22 from 6pm – 9pm -Saturday was a health focus with great information and health checks from a variety of community partners.    Ephram McDowel did blood pressure checks, sunscreen giveaways (and other fun items), and mental health screenings.  Quest Counseling, Volunteers of America, The Ridge, and the Isaiah House all had representatives and resources available.

Initial Community Feedback was very positive with both participants and the community partners.  The community outreach opportunities at the Fair have helped to grow the awareness of Extension and community resources.   Evaluations will be distributed to community Partners and made available online with social media and hard copy distribution for fair participants soon.

There were a total of 51 community partners who directly participated in the evening activities related to the Floral Hall outreach opportunities.  

Over 500 people participated or volunteered for the Friends with Disability and Senior Friends Day.  

Participant Feedback:

The seniors at the Lincoln Co Senior Center had the BEST feedback for the senior day at the fair!!!!!!!!!

They loved it and had a blast.

I definitely hope to participate next year.

Thank you for inviting us!! I loved being a part of this community outreach!

I haven’t been to the fair in 20 years, I am so excited to be invited to be included and promote our local community history and tourism opportunities!

Thank you for having a safe space for us to sit and cool off and still enjoy the fair.  My kids loved playing board games and I greatly appreciated the free water and popsicles!  Thank you!